Erykah Badu, Critic of US ‘Opression,’ a Toady of African Dictators Abroad

Eyrkah Badu is in an running battle with human rights activists for cozying up to dictators in Africa.

Erykah Badu, who once stripped naked in Dealey Plaza where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as part of a protest against racism, is under fire herself for cozying up to Africa’s worst dictators.

Badu has been in a running battle with critics since last week for performing at the birthday celebration of Swaziland’s King Mswati III.

The absolute monarch rules with an iron hand. He’s outlawed all political opposition and anyone who criticizes the government faces jail and likely torture.

Mswati lives in luxury befitting Louis XVI, while the overwhelming majority of his subjects live in abject poverty. Swaziland also has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

None of this deterred Badu from flying by helicopter to Swaziland from South Africa last week to give a one-off performance for the king and to enjoy his regal hospitality.

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TheImproper Staff

Keith Girard is Editor and Publisher of TheImproper, New York City’s cutting edge arts, entertainment pop culture and lifestyle Web magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine and a reporter for the Washington Post among other media positions.